If self-care came in a square, we imagine it would take the form of our Soft Cotton Washcloths. Great travel projects, wonderful host gifts, and perfect beach knits, make a fresh start (or finish) to someone’s day with these small wonders!

Soft Cotton Washcloths | Purl Soho

Simple linen stitch creates a fabric with a flat, woven-looking surface on one side (smooth for gentle cleansing) and a seed-stitch-like texture on the other (nubbly for getting at garden grit and ice cream drips). Tangible proof that some of the best ideas happen in the shower!

Soft Cotton Washcloths | Purl Soho

Our newly re-imagined Cotton Pure adds an extra splash of special: same spin, softness, and gauge, but now made with 100% organically grown cotton… Beautiful!

Soft Cotton Washcloths | Purl Soho

Share your progress + connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoSoftCottonWashcloths, and #PurlSohoCottonPure. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Soft Cotton Washcloths | Purl Soho

To make three washcloths…

  • 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Cotton Pure, 100% organically grown cotton. Each skein is 279 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 93 yards required for each washcloth. (Note that you use the entire skein to make all three washcloths, so to get three square washcloths, please make sure your gauge is correct!)
  • US 7 (4.5 mm) straight or 16-inch circular needles
  • If using straight needles: Two US 7 double pointed needles for I-Cord

Gauge

30 stitches and 52 rows = 4 inches in stitch pattern

Size

Finished Dimensions: 8 x 8-inch square

Note

Stitch Multiple

This pattern works over an even multiple of stitches.

Pattern

Cast on 60 stitches using a Basic Long Tail Cast-On.

Row 1 (wrong side): Slip 1 knitwise with yarn in front (wyif), *p1, slip 1 purlwise with yarn in back (wyib), repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Row 2 (right side): Slip 1 knitwise wyif, *k1, slip 1 purlwise wyif, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 8 inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 1.

Bind Off Row (right side): K2, pass first stitch over, *slip 1 purlwise wyif, pass stitch over, k1, pass stitch over, repeat from * to last 2 stitches, k2, leaving 3 stitches on right needle.

Make I-Cord

With the remaining 3 stitches, work an I-Cord for 3 inches, working the last row as follows…

Last Row: K1, k2tog, pass first stitch over second stitch and off the right needle. Cut yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail and pull through remaining stitch.

Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle. Make a loop with the I-cord and weave the tail into the fabric of the washcloth at the base of the I-cord, then weave it through the looped I-cord, and back into the fabric of the washcloth.

Weave in the remaining ends and block as desired.

Soft Cotton Washcloths | Purl Soho